NTI Device Takes the Bite Out of Stress
Sometimes chronic stress
or high-pressure situations can cause people to develop a damaging
habit known as bruxism, or unconsciously
biting down with too much force at non-mealtimes. It can happen
at night or during the day, is common in about one third of the
population, and is more prevalent amongst women. The inappropriate
tendency to constantly clench or grind the teeth can be related
to poor stress management. In fact, bruxers are often those personality
types who react to stress with anger, pain, frustration, aggression
or competition. Since it's a harmful habit that wears down biting
surfaces, misaligns the bite, and can lead to serious dental
problems, we screen each patient for warning signs: unexplained
sensitivity
in teeth and gums, jaw pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain,
popping and clicking jaws, tense muscles, headaches, excessive
wear or flatness on teeth, worn enamel, partially exposed and
sensitive tooth interior (dentin), and/or tongue indentations.
In severe
cases, we may find that frequent clenching and grinding has moved
the entire jaw out of balance.
Once identified, we can often
treat bruxism with a revolutionary little acrylic mouthpiece
called the NTI-tss device. How does
it work? Recognizing that bruxism starts with a jaw muscle
malfunction, not a bite problem, this device actually interrupts
the involuntary
tug of war between the jaw's side and temporal muscles, reducing
clenching intensity by one-third. Further, the device causes
the
muscles to relax in a stable position, so that you and those
hyperactive malfunctioning muscles can rest. Often this eliminates
bruxism
related headaches and/or various kinds of TMJ pain within just
a few days of fitting the device!
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